Follower units for quilting machines



July 31, 1962 A. SCHWARZBERGER 3,046,921

FOLLOWER UNITS FOR QUILTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1960 4 Sheets-$heet 1 FIG. I

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INVENTOR. ARTHUR SCHWARZBERGER ATTORNEYS.

July 31, 1962 A. SCHWARZBERGER 3,046,921

FOLLOWER UNITS FOR QUILTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. ARTHUR SCHWA RZBER GER ATTORNEYS.

y 1962 A. SCHWARZBERGER 3,04

FOLLOWER UNITS FOR QUILTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 8

FIG. 7

FIG. 9

INVENTOR." Q ARTHUR SCHWARZBERGER LL ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent My invention relates to machines which stitch quiltin lines in assembled layers of textile materials in conformity with a base pattern, and more particularly to the follower unit for such pattern. The latter is usually a network of V-belt material secured on a fiat base; and the conventional follower unit employs guides which track along the sides of the V-belt and are geared to assume a difierential action when the follower rounds a pattern curve. The smooth tracking of the follower often causes it to drag and lose traction, so that it takes considerably longer to accomplish thestitching operation. Also, the spread of the guides prevents the follower from conforming to turns of less than a 3-inch radius in the pattern. Further, the conventional quilting machines carry the pattern in one of the movable frames of the machine. When it is considered that some patterns weigh as much as 400 or 500 pounds, it will be realized that the conventional power drive for the movable frame will operate under a considerable strain. In fact, where a carrier, as mounted in the bridge frame of the machine, is subject to the strain referred to, it imposes a vibrating influence on the bridge frame which causes the stitching needle to break.

The novel follower unit and its environment have been designed to eliminate the above deficiencies. Thus, one object of the present invention is to provide a follower unit which employs a gear-type roller for application to the top of the pattern track, such top being ribbed to mesh with the roller and eliminate all slippage and drag from the travel of the follower unit.

Another object is to confine the engagement of the follower with the track to the point where the roller engages the top. of the track, so that the follower may conform to track curves of as small a radius as 1%. inch and meet no hindrance in this respect.

A further object is to mount the follower unit for tracking engagement at floor level, so that the pattern, whatever its size or weight may be, will rest on the floor clear of the machine frame and impose no strain on any part of the machine.

An additional object is to construct the follower in a manner to both confine its path to the course of the pattern track and have the freedom of crossing the pattern meshes Where one track intersects another.

With the above objects in view, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accom panying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the quilting machine, showing the position of the follower unit;

FIG. 2 is an elevation from the left-hand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view from the right-hand side of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged duplication of the lower portion of FIG. 4, as the'follower is about to engage the pattern track, and showing a cover removed from a housing to reveal the interior thereof;

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section on the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a fragment of the pattern; and

FIG. 10 is an enlargement of a crossing area indicated at 16 in FIG. 9.

Referring specifically to the drawings, denotes the top bar, 16 the lower bar, 17 the left-hand supporting post, and 18 the right-hand supporting post of the bridge aetaezi Patented July 31, 1962 frame which carries the sewing machine 19 by means of suspension brackets 20. The power drive to the head of the sewing machine is carried in a tubular housing 25, while that to the base of thesewing machine is carried in a similar housing 26, these housing extending from the supporting post 18 of the bridge frame.

FIG. 3 shows a pair of floor rails 3% extending along the front and rear of the bridge frame 15, respectively. These rails are secured to the floor of the space occupied by the machine, and are designed to form atrack for the travel of a frame 32 in the lower part of the machine from side to side in the space between the posts 17 and 18. The frame 32 is formed with cross-bars 3 3, and carries wheels 35 which ride on the rails 30-.

The side bars of the frame 32 are also formed to serve as a track for an upper frame 4%) whosetravel is crosswise of the track rails 30, that is, between front and rear positions. The frame also has cross-bars -41, and carries wheels 42, which ride on the side bars of the frame 32..

Mounted as described, the upper frame 40 may not only be moved forth and back, but from side to side with the lower frame 32, as the latter rides the track rails 30. This permits any object on the frame 40 to be carried in any lateral direction, such as to follow the meshes of a quilting pattern 45. The latter, which may be of wood or metal, rests on the floor between the rails 30, and the frame 40 carries a follower unit which depends into tracking contact with the strip detail a of the pattern. As seen in FIG. 7, the strip 45a has the cross-section of a V-belt, and is made of rubber; and the narrow surface of the strip is the top one.

The follower unit originates with a horizontal plate which is bolted at 51 to the upper traveling frame 4%, and carries an electric motor 53. The follower which rides the strip 45a is a gear wheel 55; and the strip is formed with cross-teeth 4512 with which the teeth of the gear wheel mesh as it travels over the pattern strip. FIG. 7 shows that the gear wheel receives guard discs 57 at the sides to confine the course of the gear wheel to that of the pattern strip. Where one strip crosses another, FIGS. 7 and 10 show that the strip is deeply grooved at 45c on four sides in order to permit the crossing travel of the guard discs 57.

The follower unit consists primarily of a vertical tube 60 and a housing 61 at the bottom of the same. The tube rises slidably through a pillow block 63 which has side flanges 63a for securing the pillow block to 'a downfiange 50a of the plate 50. The journaled disposal of the tube 60 in the pillow block permits the housing 61 to turn about the axis of the tube as the gear wheel 55- which is carried by the housingfo1lows the course of the pattern. The tube 69 carries a collar 65 at'the top, and a collar 67 just above the housing. A compression spring 68 is coiled around the tube between the pillow block and the collar. 67. The latter is sl-idable'on the tube and adapted to be fixed by a set screw 67a. Thus, the follower unit rests by its own weight on the pattern.

- Should high points or hurdles occur along the pattern,

the spring 68 will yield to the rise of the housing 61. Should it be necessary to increase the tension of the spring, the collar 67 may be set at a higher point than shown. It follows now that the regular function of the spring 68 is to maintain the gear wheel in engagement with the pattern under a suitable degree of pressure.

The function of the motor 53 is to drive the gear wheel 55. Thus, a vertical shaft 70 is journaled inside the tube 60, the shaft rising from the same to receive a pulley 72. A drive belt 73 extends from the motor to the pulley '72. The housing 61 is a heavy casting open at the sides and formed with an internal partition 61a; and cover plates 61b and 610 are applied to the sides of the housing and secured by screws 61d.

the housing.

The upper part of the housing 61 journals a crossshaft 75,.while the lower part journals a similar shaft-.177. 1 The housing is formed with aneck are at the top through which the shaft 71} descends to terminate with a worth 78.

1 A pinion StIcai-riedby the cross-shaft 75 is inme'sh with r the worm 78.1 This occurs in thelarger compartment 61f of the housing; and. the cross-shaft 75 extends into the smaller compartment 61g tocarry a spur pinion8-2. The

lower cross-shaft 77 also extends. into the compartment filg to carry a spur pinion SIw; and an idler gear 85 is jour'naled on a 'short cross-shaft in the compartment 61g to mesh withthespur'pinions 82 and 83. The compartmer t-161g. is closed at the bottom, as indicated at 61h,

grooves, Finally, the follower unit is compactly grouped .with' thetop plate, facilitating its, complete separation from the machine in case a is necessary.

major repair or overhauling While'I have described the invention along specific lines, variousminorchange's or refinements may be made to :protectthe gearing therein from foreign matter .and

make possible the retention of a gear lubricant in the compartment 61g. The compartment 61] has aclosure below theworm drive,:but necessarily open at the bot.- -tom-to expose. the gear wheel'55 for engagement with the pattern." The gear wheel is of course tightlymounted on the shaft 77, while the guard discs 57 are free to turn on suchshaft an'd' have outward hubs 5"7a to fill the spacesbetween' the'discs and the adjoining sections of carries an upstandingbracket 99 for which extends to straddle the tube An air valve 93 has a'lifter I 95 for the for in order to raise the follower unit 11 when the machine is not in use. The

are to'b -whee d to one side-for access to the sewing machine in case it'sneedle breaks or some repair to it is hecessa'ryLThUs, the pattern" or other floor projections will-not be in the way of the follower unit as the frames are wheeled'backof the zone of approach. FIGS. 6 to 8 show the followerslightlyiaisedQ The "switches andother controls' are carried in the F right-hand post 18 of th inachine; The motor is designed to be' shut oii just beforethesewing machine, and .throu'gh'the agency of an. inherent quick-stop brake for the motor shaft. Thus, a strain is not put on the sewing machine, and the same may take a few final stitches and do'soine final tacking before the sewing machine stops. It is now apparent that the novel follower unit is controllable to lift and lower it in relation to the pattern,

. and to stop'" instantly and without damage tothe sewing machineneedle. Further, the unit is free to follow the course of the pattern while securing positive traction the same by the use of a gear wheel' in mesh with the pattern strip. Further, the mechanism for, driving the gear wheel ismostly concentrated in thejbottom housing .of the"follower unit, where it adds its own weight to thatof the massive housing in order to keep most of the weight-'of the follower unit at the bottom for reliable tracking engagement with the pattern. Further, the follower isspring-backed for surmounting irregularities in the pattern'without shock to the gearwheel drive. Fur ther, the gear wheel is quite simple, since itonly meets the top 'ofthe pattern strip; andthe freelyrg'ournaled guard {discs serve both' to keep .the'gear wheel in trackengaging walinement and to thread through the crossing also used when the frames a and 32' therein without departing from its principle, and I reserve the' 'right'to employ all such changes and refinements as.

may come'without the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

1 claim: t v 1. In a quilting machine or thelike, the combination with a' carrier, and a linear pattern below the sarrjie;-.of a follower supported by the carrier, the follower including a gearvvheel'haviug relatively straight peripheral teeth directed for...1l iling engagement with the pattern, said pattern including a relatively low gear-rack profile on the upper surface thereof for meshing engagement and po"itive traction with gear teeth, thepattern includingrelatively, straight. sides; said .follower'including hori zont-al shaiftmeansuponwhioh said gear wheel is mounted and individual guard discsjournalled for. free rotation on said shaft means alongside said .gear wheel for. traveling along said pattern sides. when .said gear wheel is rotated.

2. The. structure of claim. 1 wherein said pattern comprises a.network of .stripsj some of whichintersect. and. M cross each other, saidintersecting: portions of saidstrips discs to pass, fnerethroughxa's said gear'wheel moves over the intersectionof saidstrips.v I 3. The structure of claim '1 including resilient means engaged with said follower and normally urging saidfol lower into engagement withs'aid pattern.' 1 r 4. The structure of claim 1'whereinsaidfollo-wercomprises a housing including upper, side and lower compartments, a drive shaft projecting into said upper comhaving groove portions therebet'ween for permitting said partment, a second drive shaft projecting laterally from said upper compartment into said side compartment and drivingly connected to said first mentioned drive shaft,

a gear train connected-to said second drive shaft and disposed within said side compartment, said horizontal shaft means projecting into said side compartment and drivingly connected to said gear train v 4 References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS, 

